Clasp for bracelets and wrist watches



Nov. 2 1926.

F. SUTTIN CLASP FOR BRACELETS AND WRIST WATCHES Filed June 29, 1925 Patented Nov. 2, 1926.

FRANK STTIN, `F LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNORvOF ,ONE-HALF TO AGr. G VOEGEOF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

CLASP FOR BRACELETS ANI) `'WRIST WATCHES.

i .Appli'atonnled'une 29, 1,925. Serial No. 49,379.

This invention relates toa clasp which is especially useful when applied in the Vconstructionof wrist watches and particularly to a type of wrist watch in which the watch maybe detached from the brac-eletand the bracelet"transformed into `a regular bracelet without a wrist watch.

It is very ydesirable that the bracelet holding the wrist watchshould tit tightly on the wrist so as to preventthe watchtrom moving about. The clasps usually carried .by bracelets are constructed in such a way asto necessitate `the introduction of the iinger under the clasp in closing or opening it.

yThis lnecessitates the bracelet being somewhat loose to `permitfthe introduction oi the finger.

`rllhe'.,f generalobject of my invention is to producea claspof simple construction which can be readily opened and closed Withoutnccessitating the introduction ,ot the finger between it and the wrist; also to provide a claspwhich is particularly adapted for connecting awrist watch into a bracelet.

Furtherobjects.ofthe invention will appear hereinafter. i l

The invention. consists `in the novel parts and combination of parts to bedescribed hereinafter, all of which contribute to produce anetlicientclasp Vfor a bracelet and wrist watch.

'A preferred embodiment of the invention is described `in the followingspecilicatiom while the broad scope of lthe invention is pointed vout in the .appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan of the bracelet when worn as a wrist watch,the view being upon a somewhat enlarged scale.

2 is a side elevation ot thewristwatch with its connected sideinemberS, and showing short portions Vof the adjacent ends of the wrist band of thebracelet. f

Fig. 3 is a plan showing the ends ot the wrist band which lie adjacent to the watch,

and illustrating the construction and the way in which my claspfacilitates the'A transforming of awrist watch bracelet into an ordinary bracelet.

Fig. l is a side elevation showing `the parts illustrated in Fig.V 3, but showing them in different positions so as tol'urther illus- `trate detailsof their construction.

Fig. 5 is `a side elevation of the type oi clasp which Iprefer to employ as the iside members which connect the wrist watch to the ends of the wrist band.

Fig. G is a perspective ofa `type of clasp very similar to that shown in Fig. l5 and illustratingthe same in its open position. y y

' 'Fig f7 is a perspective of aV clasp "of the same type as 'shown in Fig. 5 butwitha narrow hook adapting it fto bel employed with the type of watch whichis convertible from an ordinary watch to a wrist watch and in wliichtwo small rings arebpr'ovided at diametrically opposite points on Athe watch; one of these rings is the usual ring mounted at the watch stem. F ig. 8 is a side elevation of a clasp showing another embodiment of the invention in which the resiliency, "which enables the closure or cover of the clasp to 4vsnap shut, is supplied by a separate spring; and in this type a specialfeatnre :is embodied for increasing the securitywithvvhich thehoolr watch.

Fig. 9 is a section taken about on theline 9-9 ofrlig. 8.

F ig. 10 is a vertical cross section talren about on thelinev10-l0offFig8f u (It is to be understood thatin Figs. 5 to `l0 the clasps yare ,showin uponahigh'ly magnified scalei) f Referring toFigzl, the wristwatch `1 is mounted in a wrist. band 2 being connected tothe ends 3 of, the wrist band by side memf bers 1l. These side members are'mwide at their inner ends sofas topattach to elongated eyes 5 `formed at the sides of thewatch case, and are elongated Iand vof narrower width throughout theirvlength. i In the drawing, both 'of these sidemem` bers 4 are constructed as claspsfj Inpractice, it is only necessary kthat one of them should bein the form of a claspyliowever. it is essential that-one of the side members shallbe in thefform of aclaspv in' order to enableit to be disengaged 'from `thehwrist is kattached to the ringlorpstaple of the wrist ywatch preparatory to 'disconnecting it 'from vthewrist band. `When Vthe disconnection" is made at oneside, of coursethe watch with the vside member on the other sidejmay 'be also disengagedwtrom the adjacentiend 4of the wrist band. l A A y In orderto accomplish the .removal of the wrist watch with the side members, Ipreter to construct the end, of s each Iside member with a threaded stud, and theend link member to the adjacent link of the chain or-wrist band. The links 9 of the wrist band are preferably connected together by hinge joints 10 on their inner sides, that is to say,

Aon the side which lies toward the wrist.

Although Iprefer to construct one of the side members 4 as a` clasp of special construction, any suitable detachable clasp may be employed which can be opened so as to disengage it from the eye 5 at the side of the watch. When the clasp or side member l is disengaged, it can of course be rotated so as `to disengage its stud 6 from the wrist band. In this way, the watch and they side members can be completely removed from the band. l f j In order to transform the remaining por-V tion of the wrist band into a complete bracelet, I provide afband-section 11 (see Figs. 3 and et). This band-section includes a detachable `clasp 12 whichcooperates with an adjacent` link 13 to enable all of the links of the band-section 11'to be connected together. As illustrated in Figs. 3 and Il, the clasp simply connects the end link of the band-section. By reason'of the clasp 12, it will be evident that the band section can be separated into two parts, as illustrated in Fig. 3. At each end ofthe band-section a threaded stud 14s is provided similar to the threaded stud 6 carried by the` side members 4f. These threaded `studs 14C fit the threads of the socketsy 8 in the end links of the wrist band. Therefore, in order to complete the bracelet, it is merely necessary to screw up the two ends of the band-section on the adjacent ends of the wrist band and then snap the clasp 12 into place, that isto say, it is merely necessary to close the bracelet and hold it closed by means of the claspv12.

In order to give uniformity to the links of the complete bracelet, I prefer to attach the studs 1d to a hinged plate 15 on the ends of the'links'which carry them, each plate 15 being attached by a hinge connection 16. Most of the clasps which are now employed in wrist watches or bracelets are yimpractical for the reason that it is usually necessary to insert ones finger between the clasp and the wrist in order to operate the clasp. I prefer to construct the clasps or side members el in such a way that this is not necessary,l but so that lthey can be very readily openedor closed. For this purpose, I preferto construct them of the type illustrate'd in Figs. 5 to l0.

Lacasse These clasps are characterized by the fact that the body of the clasp is of shallow boX form with a relatively large bottom wall to lie against the wrist, and this bottom has side flanges which extend along the body and which give stiffness to the body, and at one end the body is provided with a hook to engage the watch. Adjacent to this hook the lianges are provided with socket means which receives stud means which may be a transverse bolster carried on the cover or closure of the clasp, said cover or closure being in the form of an elongated plate conforming to the general outline of the body. The type of clasp illustrated in Fig. 6, has its body 1T provided with a hook 18 at one end, the side flanges 19 of the body being provided with socket means or throats 20. rIhese throats are preferably connected by a tube 21 which extends transversely of the body and connects the side flanges, such tube being open on its upper side. lhile it is not absolutely necessary touse this tube, I prefer to do so in this type of clasp because it greatly increases the areas of contact which are rubbed together when the clasp is closed or opened. The closure of the"k clasp is in the form of a plate or cover 22 which is hinged at 23 at the end of the body'remote from the hook 18, and this cover is provided on its under side with a transverse bolster 24s which 1s in the form of a round bar brazed or otherwise secured to the under face of the cover. Thisbolster andthe socket means are so constructed that the bolster will move bodily laterally and'snap into the socket when the plate or cover 22 is pressed down.

`When the plate 22 is closed, its end projects over the opening or throat 25 which leads into the hook 18-vin other words, the closure 22 cooperates with thehook 18 to close the hook when the cover is closed.

In order to facilitate opening the'cover plate 22 at will, I prefer to provide its upper side with an undercut button 26.

If desired, I may construct the hook of greater width than the body of the clasp (see Fig. 6, in which 27 indicates the hook). This hook as illustrated is of much greater width than the body of the clasp. In other respects the clasp may be constructed as illustrated in Fig. 5, that is to say, it presents a transverse socket 29 into which the bolster snaps when the cover plate 31 is closed. Beyond the bolster 2O the cover plate 3l has an extension 82 which will project over the hook Vand prevent it from becoming disengaged from the eye of the wrist watch.

In some cases it may be desired to adapt the bracelet for use with convertible watches, that is to say, a watch in which the usual ring at the stem of the watch is supplemented by a smaller ring at a diametrically opllS posite point. In order to adapt the clasp to cooperate with a watch of that type, I may construct the clasp as illustrated in Fig. 7, in which I provide narrow hook 33 to take hold of the watch ring. In other respects, the clasp may be constructed as already described, except that I .terminate the cover plate 34 short of the hook, and I simply provide an elongated button 35 on the upper side of the cover plate which projects over the hook and closes the opening into it.

It desired, the clasp may be .constructed so that a separate spring is provided to give resiliency to the bolster which snaps into the socket. In that case, I prefer to construct Athe clasp as illustrated in Figs. 8 to 10. In

this type of clasp, the clasp has the usual shallow box-like body 36 with side flanges 37 having socket means 38 and on theV under side of the cover 39 a spring Ll0 is provided having two forks, each fork carrying a small roll or bolster 4l. 'Ihese rolls or holsters 41 project at their ends beyond the sides of the body. lVith this construction, it will be evident that by pressing in on the ends or the holsters or rolls All, they may be disengaged from the socket means or sockets 38 to enable the cover to open.

lWith this type of spring catch, I prefer to provide the end of the cover with a curved guard t2 which extends downwardly (see Fig. 8) and which would prevent the metal at the eye 5 of the wrist watch from coming in contact with the holsters lil. rihis guard l2 is concave on the side toward the hook A3.

Although I have illustrated both the side members 4 as clasps, it should be distinctly understood that one of them may be perina* nently attached to the wrist Watch. It is only necessary that one of them should open in order to enable the wrist watch to be taken out and. the band-Section substituted for it in the bracelet.

It is understood that the embodiment of the invention described herein is only one of the many embodiments this invention may take, and I do not Wish to be limited in the practice of the invention, nor in the claims, to the particular embodiment set forth.

What I claim is l. In a combination bracelet and wristwatch, a clasp for attaching` the wrist band to the watch having a body with a relatively large flat Wall te lie against ones wrist, and havingru a hook at one end to hook into the side of the watch, a cover for the body pivot ally attached to the body at the end thereof remote from the hook operating to swing toward or from said wall, said body having a transverse socket adjacent the hook, and a transverse bolster carried by the cover on its under side constructed to snap yieldingly into the said socket when the cover is closed, said cover cooperating with the hook to close the throat of the hook.

2. A clasp for a wristwatch having` a shallow box-forni body with a relatively large flat bottom wall to lie against ones wrist, and having a hook at one end, a snap cover having a hinge connection with the other end of the body with its aXis parallel with the bottom wall ofl the body, and having a transverse bolster on its under Side, said body having a transverse socket open on its upper side and constructed to enable the bolster to move bodily laterally in snapping into the socket, said cover cooperating with the hook when in its closed position to close the throat of the hook.

3. A clasp for a wrist-watch having a body with side flanges, said flanges having socket- `means associated therewith, a snap cover pivotally attached to the side flanges at the end of the body remote from the socketmeans, and a catch on the under side of the cover 'for engaging in the socket means when the cover is closed, said body having a hook to engage the watch and cooperating with the cover to close the throat of the hook when the cover is closed.

1l. A clasp for a wrist watch or bracelet having a shallow box-form body with a relatively large bottom wall to lie against ones wrist, and having a hook at one end of said body, a snap cover hinged to the other end of the body having means cooperating with the hook to close the same when the snap cover is swung toward the said bottom, said i cover and said body having stud means and means cooperating therewith to hold the cover in its closed position.

Signed at Los Angeles, California, this 27th day of May, 1925.

FRANK SUTTIN. 

